Federal budget cuts could squeeze Memphis airport screening

Automatic federal spending cuts could shut down two out of three security checkpoints at Memphis International Airport. But the smaller volume of passengers coming through the airport would mute the impact on security screening, airport president and CEO Larry Cox added.

Automatic federal spending cuts could shut down two out of three security checkpoints at Memphis International Airport and close air traffic control towers at airports in Millington; Olive Branch; Jackson, Tenn.; and Tupelo, Miss. airports.

Fallout from the so-called sequester wouldn't be felt for about a month, and even then it probably would not seriously disrupt the Memphis airport, at least not at first, officials said.

Airport officials don't expect the threatened cuts to have an immediate affect on overnight cargo operations of the FedEx Express world hub, the airport's bread and butter. FedEx operates about 250 daily flights in the city.

The smaller volume of passengers coming through the airport, due to flight reductions by hub operator Delta Air Lines, would mute the impact on security screening, airport president and CEO Larry Cox added.

However, because budget cuts are expected to cause greater disruption at the nation's busiest airports, including Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, New York-JFK and Newark, Cox said passengers would be well-advised to approach travel as if there were weather-related changes to flight schedules.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it wasn't clear yet how long reductions in air traffic control would last, if the agency is forced to follow through with plans to trim $600 million from its budget.

In addition to closure of regional towers, measures could include elimination of overnight shifts at Little Rock, Nashville and Knoxville airport towers.

It also was unclear how FedEx's national and international networks would be affected flying in and out of more congested airports.

FedEx spokeswoman Maury Donahue said, "FedEx is closely monitoring the situation. It is premature to speculate about what, if any, impact sequestration will have on FedEx operations, but we have extensive experience in contingency planning and we are confident we will be able to meet our customers' needs and continue providing reliable service."

She added, "We urge Congress and the Administration to work toward permanent solutions that address our country's debt and deficit problems."

Across-the-board budget reductions at federal agencies are scheduled to take effect Friday unless President Barack Obama and congressional leaders work out a solution. However, federal officials have said it could be April 1 before they adjust staffing in line with the cuts. That leaves time for a compromise to be hammered out.

The president is scheduled to meet with House and Senate leadership from both parties Friday.

Cox said the airport is fortunate that Checkpoint B, its largest, is newly expanded and equipped with the Transportation Security Administration's most up to date screening equipment. After clearing Checkpoint B, passengers can use a concourse connector to reach any of the airport's three concourses.

"Our airport really shouldn't see any impact except to the extent there are problems in other major terminals like New York, Chicago, Atlanta," Cox said. "Just like if you have a snowstorm somewhere else, the problem could affect the flow in and out of Memphis."

"Obviously, there could be some slowing of traffic through Checkpoint B. Since we don't have the large hub we had in the past, that takes a lot of pressure off getting flights in and out."

The FAA says the sequester would force furloughs of a vast majority of 47,000 employees about one day a pay period, or as many as two days a pay period.

TSA said it would have to freeze hiring, eliminate overtime and furlough its 50,000 officers up to seven days, causing substantial increases in passenger wait times at airport security checkpoints.

Reductions at the FAA and TSA are among more high-profile consequences of the looming sequester.

A White House impact assessment for Tennessee enumerated about $72 million in cuts, including $26.5 million in reduced funding for teachers, schools and educating children with disabilities.

About 80 percent of 1,790 civilian employees Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington could be affected by sometime in late March. In Tennessee, the appropriated payroll for civilian employees could be cut by one day a week until the end of the fiscal year in September. That would cut an estimated $37 million in wages. In Arkansas, the furlough could cut payrolls by $19.5 million. Mississippi numbers weren't available.